SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. PORT OF OAMARU. THE TORPEDO DEFENCE OF MELBOURNE. ("Australasian.")

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1868, 22 April 1878, Page 2

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. PORT OF OAMARU.

THE TORPEDO DEFENCE OF MELBOURNE. ("Australasian.")

April 22 —lli«h w.atoi at Ounmru— 0.19 a.m.

VKSHICIfS IN POUT. Steamer. — Samson. Threo-mmtud sohoonor.— Vixon. BrigimHno. — Ouooln. Schooners.— Martha Uoid, iS'isy, Columbia, Wftivmnui, Elizaboth Curio, Kwdoavour, Croat of tlio Wave Kolob— Catliu.

ARIUVKD. April 21— M'mmmi, |».m., Joi'c", frivn l)u ic^in. If. AiJkon, a^ont.

ENTERED INWARDS. April eO.—Vixon, 3-m soli, Rtophon, from Dunertin, in ballast. Now Zealand Loan ami Morumtilo Agonoy Co., Agonlj. April 20.— fJroit of tho wavo, son., M'Loan, tvoin Dunodin, in balla»t. Master^ agent. April '20.— Ocoola, brigantine, Davis, from Nowcastlo. Georgo Sutnptor, ngont.

CLEARED OUTWARDS. April 20.— Wnitaki, s.s., Ertio, for Dimediu. H. Aifckon, agont. l'assongors— Mov dnmcs (lilohrist and Ackroyd : Mossrs Longford, Gilchrist, Bighton, Mitchoil, Ackroyd, Harris, Edwards, Weston, Da^is, and about thirteen in tho stoerago. »

EXPORTS. lor Waitaki, for Dunodin.--3fl baas pota>tooa, Turnbull"; 4 bugs do, M 'Donald } 112t5 bags barley, Sumptor \ 1 parcel, Julius and Balmor ; 1 do, Mm King j 200 sacks flour, 1200 j-rto do, .20 do bran, 20 do oatmoal, J. and T. Mook ; 25 boxos soap, H. Aitkon.

The Oamavu and Dimorlin Steamship Co.'» i.s. Waitaki, Captain Eflie, atonmed for Dunedin at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday, with a large cargo of breadstufls and grain, and a number of passengers. Tho schooner Crest of tho Wavo, Contain M'Tiean, oamo into port on Friday night, from Duncilin, in hnlltist. Tho three-masted nchoonor Vixen, Captain Stephen, arrived in port on Saturday morning, from Dunedin, with a consignment of timbor. Sho is to load produce for Now Plymouth. Tho brigantine Oceola, Captain Davis, camo into port on Saturday, from Newcastle, with a cargo of 330 tons coal, for Mr George Sumpter. The Union Steannhip Company's p.s. Samson, Capt. Jones, arrived in port from Dunedin at the usual hour yesterday afternoon, with pfttsongors- and cargo. Sheloavos again for Dunedin at 5.30 p.m. this day.

The defence of tlio channels near the Honda has for sguio timo past boon engaging tfio attention of the volunteer authorities! ' and in conjunction with Captain Mandeville a scheme of defence by menus of torpedoes' has been finally decided upon, and as the manufacture of torpedoes Is being rapidly proceeded with, it is expected that in a vory short time the channels will be completely blooked against the ontranco of an opposing forco. In consoquonco of no provision having been made for the erection of the two forts recommended by Sir William Jervois, and also from tho difficulty in obtaining tho large amount of oable required, tho scheme of torpedo defence recommended by that officor has had to bo considerably modified. It is proposed to close, when necessary, tho mouth of the West Channel by means of block ships iunk in the entranco, and this will leave only the South Channel to be defended by torpedoos. The mouth of this channel will also bo left open, owing to tho largo amount of cablo that would be required, and also the number of torpedoes nacossary. Having made a careful survey <■( tho luKtltly, Captain Ellory has iluuldud that tho most Buitnnla spot in the channel for laying down torpedoos is tho narrow portion near the little fishing village of Kosebud, just beyond Drqmana. The channel it here about two mile's wide, but owing to tho aliallowuesfl of the water on either side, only about a mile and a half will hnve to be laid with torpedoos. A oontraot has been takon for the construction of 100 iron torpedo cases, calculated to contain about 1001b of gun cotton, and sixty of these have been already delivered by the contrnofcon. Captain Ellory proposes at present to lay down two lines of thoSo machines, tho torpedoes in each line being plaoed en tohtlon, so that in the event of a small vessel passing nnininred through the first line she could' not fail to come in contact with the second line. The torpedoes in each lino will be placed about CO yards apart, but if it is found possible to obtain more cable they -will be plaoed further apart, and a third line of them laid down. This would perhaps bo the best course to adopt, as recent experiments at Home have shown that tho explosion of a 1001b torpedo is liable to dorange others at a distanoo of 200 ft. The Cerberus will of course defend the entrance to the South Channel, her object being to force an attacking ship or* iqUadron over under the fire of the batteries at Queensclift; The Nelson will aot as a guardship in rear of the lme« of torpedoes, in order te repel any boat attack, or attempt to removo the torpedoes. .Tho Torpedo and Signal Corps being desirous 'of having some practice in the laying of torpedoes, have applied to the authorities for leave to have a camp at this place during tho Easter holidays, and their application has b,een favorably entertained. The commanding officer of the corps is now making arrangements for tho hire of a small steamer and a ooupld of launches, to carry on the work with, and it is intended during tho four or fivo day» tho corps am down there to take the opportunity of testing tho several new infernal machines. Although 60 of the new torpodo cases have been delivered, thoy have not yet been filled, but this work will bo .carried out very shortly. The Government havo handed oVer to the corps the hulk Deborah at the" mouth of tho river, and as soon as she hat been cleaned, fumigated, and renovated, th,o corps will make her their hoadqtiarters for drill purpose*, and also as a store ship fpr the present, but Captain Kllory is desirous of obtaining from tho Lands dopartmont a •mall piece of waste land near the moutlvof the river, on which to erect sheds in which 1 tho torpcdooß could bo filled and stored against tho timo when thoy might be required.